Interpenetrating networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to the penetrating networks comprising a covalently crosslinked polymer component and a polyester urethane component. The materials in accordance with the present invention are suitable in particular as materials for medicinal purposes, as implants, for target controlled stimuli-sensitive drug release, as ligament augmentation and as replacement material for inter-vertebrae disks.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An interpenetrating network comprising a polymer component that is covalently crosslinked, obtainable by crosslinking the polymer component in the presence of a polyester urethane, wherein the polyester urethane comprises at least segments derived from pentadecalactone and segments derived from partially crystalline segments that comprise polyester segments, polyether ester segments, or polyether segments, or glassy segments that comprise polyester or copolyester, and wherein the polyester urethane is not crosslinked and not covalently bonded to the polymer component. 
     
     
       2. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer component is a polyester. 
     
     
       3. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer component is terminally functionalized with methacrylate groups. 
     
     
       4. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyester urethane comprises segments derived from polycaprolactone (PCL), polycaprolactone-co-polytetrahydrofurane segments (PCL-co-pTHF), tetrahydrofurane segments (pTHF), polypropyleneglycol segments (PPG) or polyethyleneglycol segments (PEG). 
     
     
       5. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyester urethane comprises segments derived from copolyester is poly-L-lactid-co-glycolide (ran) (PLGA) or poly-DL-lactide (P-DL-LA). 
     
     
       6. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyester urethane comprise segments derived from a polycaprolactone segment. 
     
     
       7. Interpenetrating network according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer component is a dimethacrylate of a polycaprolactone. 
     
     
       8. Process for preparing an interpenetrating network which comprises irradiation with UV light of a melt comprising an interpenetrating network as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. Process according to  claim 8 , wherein the polymer component of the network is a polyester. 
     
     
       10. Process according to  claim 8 , wherein the polymer component of the network is terminally functionalized at all terminals with methacrylate groups. 
     
     
       11. Process according to  claim 8 , wherein the polyester urethane of the network comprises segments derived from caprolactone and pentadecalactone. 
     
     
       12. Process according to  claim 8 , wherein the polymer component of the network is a dimethacrylate of a polycaprolactone.